Ray Conner
Sports Editor

When you get a good pitching performance, you expect to win.

Unfortunately, as one of Chris Berman’s favorite lines states, “That’s why they play the game,” fits perfectly for the contest the Broncs played in bracket play at the Farmersville Tournament.

Warren Pappas of the Broncs pushes a bunt in practice on Friday. Kern Valley was preparing to face the Vasquez Mustangs on Thursday at home after squaring off against Salesian on Tuesday at home.

Despite Kevin Emery (0-2) striking out 15 of the 30 batters he would face, Kern Valley suffered a 3-2 loss to Exeter on Saturday.

Those 15 strikeouts by Emery were a career high. He struck out 14 Fairmont batters in 2008.

Three unearned runs would be the downfall for Emery and the Broncs (2-2) who would commit three errors in allowing all the Exeter runs. Emery gave up just four hits and walked three in seven innings of work.

Emery’s opponent on the hill was just as effective as he set down 12 Kern Valley players on strikes, while scattering five hits.

Kern Valley’s offense was stagnant as they only had one inning with multiple hits in it. A double play would end the threat and the Broncs hopes of advancing further in the tournament.

They left three men on base, and had one runner thrown out trying to steal a base.

The Broncs scored one run in the second as Exeter’s defense booted two balls in allowing the run to come across the plate.

In the sixth, Kern Valley scored their second run as Emery led off with a single and was moved to second on an interference call.

After an infield single by Warren Pappas Kern Valley had runners at first and second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Emery scooted home on Cody Bulgarelli’s single to put them one run closer.

Kern Valley had the tying run standing at third base and the potential go ahead run on first with only one out.

A line drive caught by the shortstop and a put out at third for the double play ended the threat and sent the Broncs home early in bracket play of the tournament.

Emery and Pappas each had two hits to share the team lead in hitting.

The only other hit came off the bat of Bulgarelli in the sixth.

Kern Valley head coach Mike Genthner said, “It was a very frustrating game. We struck out 12 times, most of them looking and were continually fooled and off balanced at the plate. On top of that, we had two big base running mistakes and two of our three errors accounted for all their runs.”

He would go on to say, “On a positive note, Emery pitched great. You’ll win most days when your pitcher strikes out 15 and allows no earned runs...just not today.”

Up next for the Broncs will be a home contest with the Vasquez Mustangs on Thursday. They played Salesian in a home game on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time.